0:00:03 > 0:00:04Welcome to the programme. Tonight's headlines:
0:00:04 > 0:00:06Last weekend's home defeat the final straw.
0:00:06 > 0:00:08Garry Monk is no longer manager at Swansea City.
0:00:08 > 0:00:12The coach will pick up the reins for their next match.
0:00:12 > 0:00:17And as ministers hand over ?4 billion,
0:00:17 > 0:00:19they urge local councils to think seriously before they set
0:00:19 > 0:00:22council tax next year.
0:00:35 > 0:00:36Good evening.
0:00:36 > 0:00:38After weeks of speculation, Swansea City have parted company
0:00:38 > 0:00:41with manager Garry Monk.
0:00:41 > 0:00:43BBC Wales understands that assistant manager Pep Clotet and first-team
0:00:43 > 0:00:48coach James Beattie are also set to leave.
0:00:48 > 0:00:50And tonight, it's been revealed that Swansea Coach,
0:00:50 > 0:00:54Alan Curtis is set to take charge for Saturday's game
0:00:54 > 0:00:55against Manchester City.
0:00:55 > 0:01:00Our sports reporter Iwan Griffiths has more.
0:01:00 > 0:01:01They've come from behind...
0:01:01 > 0:01:04Scenes of celebration following the August victory over
0:01:04 > 0:01:05Manchester United.
0:01:05 > 0:01:08How things have changed.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11With just one win since that result, Garry Monk's feature as manager
0:01:11 > 0:01:14became increasingly uncertain.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17A dismal performance and a disappointing three nil home
0:01:17 > 0:01:21defeat to Leicester last week was a trigger that led
0:01:21 > 0:01:22to his sacking.
0:01:22 > 0:01:25He'll be hugely disappointed, very hurt.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28I feel very disappointed for him because he's done a good job.
0:01:28 > 0:01:33He took over in difficult circumstances, after
0:01:33 > 0:01:38Michael Laudrup, and I think he's done a very good job.
0:01:38 > 0:01:43He's taken the club to its highest ever finish,
0:01:43 > 0:01:45certainly in the premiership.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48There's no doubting Garry Monk's allegiance.
0:01:48 > 0:01:52Joining the League 2 side on a free transfer in due 2004,
0:01:52 > 0:01:56he received a captain's armband two seasons later.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59With the Swans up in League 1, the defender skippered his team
0:01:59 > 0:02:04to championship promotion in 2008, before but historic 2011
0:02:04 > 0:02:08season, when Swansea city stepped up to the Premier League.
0:02:08 > 0:02:11It was 2013, and Monk was celebrating a League
0:02:11 > 0:02:18Cup victory, cheered on by thousands of fans who'd lined the Swansea
0:02:18 > 0:02:19streets.
0:02:19 > 0:02:21On the 4th of February 2014, following the sacking
0:02:21 > 0:02:24of Michael Laudrup, he was appointed as interim player manager by HM Hugh
0:02:24 > 0:02:27Jenkins will stop he was confirmed as manager three months later,
0:02:27 > 0:02:28Jenkins.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31he was confirmed as manager three months later, and Monk signed
0:02:31 > 0:02:32a new three-year contract this July.
0:02:32 > 0:02:36On the 9th of December just four months later,
0:02:36 > 0:02:38and his 11 year relationship with the
0:02:38 > 0:02:41South Wales club has come to end.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44Probably change did have to come.
0:02:44 > 0:02:48Not Garry Monk's personal self, any manager we had, the run of form
0:02:48 > 0:02:51we had he would probably have to go away, whoever it was going to be.
0:02:51 > 0:02:53We were talking about it at the weekend
0:02:53 > 0:02:55and we said we can't see him staying long.
0:02:55 > 0:02:57But I did like him.
0:02:57 > 0:02:59I feel really sad, and I hope for
0:02:59 > 0:03:01this one is that they get a really good manager.
0:03:01 > 0:03:05Swansea city are currently 15th in the Premier
0:03:05 > 0:03:07League, just one point above the relegation zone.
0:03:07 > 0:03:09The new manager will need to change things around,
0:03:09 > 0:03:10and quickly.
0:03:10 > 0:03:12But it won't be easy.
0:03:12 > 0:03:16Manchester city are the opponents in just three days' time.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19Councils should think seriously before they set council tax next
0:03:19 > 0:03:24year, after a better than expected settlement from the Welsh
0:03:24 > 0:03:26Government. That's the message from ministers tonight.
0:03:26 > 0:03:28Councils will get more than ?4 billion from the government.
0:03:28 > 0:03:32That's 1.4% less than they got this year.
0:03:32 > 0:03:33With the details, here's our political correspondent
0:03:33 > 0:03:37Daniel Davies.
0:03:37 > 0:03:39Keeping their heads above water hasn't been easy for
0:03:39 > 0:03:41cash-strapped councils.
0:03:41 > 0:03:46Here in Narberth this swimming pool is run by local people who saved it
0:03:46 > 0:03:49from closure by Pembrokeshire County Council.
0:03:49 > 0:03:51I've been on the Council for 20 odd years
0:03:51 > 0:03:56and along the time I've learnt that if you want to maintain services,
0:03:56 > 0:04:00especially in this climate where cuts are everywhere,
0:04:00 > 0:04:02then you've got to get out as do it yourself,
0:04:02 > 0:04:04there's no other way round it.
0:04:04 > 0:04:08Government funding for councils next year will be just over ?4 billion.
0:04:08 > 0:04:14A cut of 1.4%.
0:04:14 > 0:04:16But that's less than the almost 35.%
0:04:16 > 0:04:17cut they faced this year.
0:04:17 > 0:04:19Under the funding formula, rural councils do badly.
0:04:19 > 0:04:25Powys Council will take the biggest hit, down 4.1%.
0:04:25 > 0:04:27Cardiff Council comes out on top down just
0:04:27 > 0:04:290.1%.
0:04:29 > 0:04:34Do you expect council tax rises to be lower this year
0:04:34 > 0:04:35than they have been?
0:04:35 > 0:04:37Well, I don't want local governments to produce
0:04:37 > 0:04:40irresponsibly low council tax rises, but nor do they want them to produce
0:04:40 > 0:04:43irresponsibly high council tax rises.
0:04:43 > 0:04:47I expect them to look first at the cost of administration,
0:04:47 > 0:04:50senior management costs stop I expect them to look
0:04:50 > 0:04:52at their reserves, that they are currently
0:04:52 > 0:04:54carrying, and see how they can deploy those
0:04:54 > 0:04:57to supplement their money they are getting from the Welsh government.
0:04:57 > 0:04:59Councils are expected by ministers to protect
0:04:59 > 0:05:02schools and social care, so when the axe falls it falls
0:05:02 > 0:05:06elsewhere on libraries, and leisure centres.
0:05:06 > 0:05:10The Tories say councils in the countryside are losing out.
0:05:10 > 0:05:12The formula is certainly of...
0:05:12 > 0:05:16You know, not helpful to those living in rural
0:05:16 > 0:05:18communities will stop the relationship now between rural
0:05:18 > 0:05:22communities and the Welsh Labour government is at an all-time low,
0:05:22 > 0:05:24and this actually further endorses that.
0:05:24 > 0:05:26The government doesn't accept that.
0:05:26 > 0:05:31It says the formula sets funding reflects local
0:05:31 > 0:05:34populations, and that all councils have signed up to it.
0:05:34 > 0:05:38Cardiff Council is likely that says today's
0:05:38 > 0:05:41settlement is encouraging, but still won't be enough
0:05:41 > 0:05:42to meet growing demand.
0:05:42 > 0:05:44His authority is going to lease this athletic Stadium
0:05:44 > 0:05:47to help raise money.
0:05:47 > 0:05:49Councils such as Cardiff faced being only able to fund education
0:05:49 > 0:05:52and social services.
0:05:52 > 0:05:54There won't be a budget is left for anything else.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57Things that people do often care about, whether it is Ledger centres
0:05:57 > 0:05:59or parks or clean streets.
0:05:59 > 0:06:03The cuts are still coming down the track, but the pace of cuts
0:06:03 > 0:06:06has slowed down.
0:06:06 > 0:06:07Something local council leaders have
0:06:07 > 0:06:11welcomed tonight.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14Wales is once again at the bottom of a UK table measuring the strength
0:06:14 > 0:06:15of the economy.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18And the figures from the Office for National Statistics also
0:06:18 > 0:06:20show that it's growing at the slowest rate.
0:06:20 > 0:06:25While we make up 5% of the UK population, we only contribute 3.5%
0:06:25 > 0:06:28to the economy.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31A North Wales Assembly Member has branded the UK Government's
0:06:31 > 0:06:33multi-million plan to improve mobile phone coverage in his area
0:06:33 > 0:06:37as an expensive flop.
0:06:37 > 0:06:42Plaid Cymru's Llyr Gruffydd says 27 masts promised for so-called "not
0:06:42 > 0:06:47spots" haven't been installed, with the company responsible citing
0:06:47 > 0:06:48technical and planning problems.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51The MP for Wrexham Ian Lucas says there's a North/South divide
0:06:51 > 0:06:54in terms of mobile phone coverage in Wales.
0:06:54 > 0:06:59A civil engineering firm in Gwynedd is going into voluntary
0:06:59 > 0:07:01administration, with the loss of 50 jobs.
0:07:01 > 0:07:03Staff at Mulc-air, in Caernarfon,
0:07:03 > 0:07:06have been told they're being made redundant.
0:07:06 > 0:07:10The Newport Gwent Dragons say they're "extremely disappointed"
0:07:10 > 0:07:13that Taulupe Faletau is to join Bath from next season.
0:07:13 > 0:07:17The 25 year old has rejected an offer of a national dual contract
0:07:17 > 0:07:20with the Dragons and the Welsh Rugby Union.
0:07:20 > 0:07:24The WRU say it liaised with the Dragons "on all
0:07:24 > 0:07:27developments" during the talks.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30I'm growing very tired of Talupay and the Dragons being a test case
0:07:30 > 0:07:34for these policies, procedures and documents,
0:07:34 > 0:07:38but I think apart from the personal interests, I think there is a need
0:07:38 > 0:07:44to consider its implications in a wider context as well,
0:07:44 > 0:07:53so we can understand, going forward, how the NDC is working.
0:07:55 > 0:07:55Or
0:07:55 > 0:07:55Or in
0:07:55 > 0:07:56Or in this
0:07:56 > 0:07:56Or in this case
0:07:56 > 0:07:57Or in this case not.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00Time for a quick look at the weather now, here's Sue Charles.
0:08:00 > 0:08:01Good evening.
0:08:01 > 0:08:03After a brief respite in our weather today,
0:08:03 > 0:08:04turning increasingly wet and windy overnight.
0:08:04 > 0:08:07A band of more persistent rain pushing in from the north-west,
0:08:07 > 0:08:10a further 20 to 40 millimetres of rain possible at lower levels.
0:08:10 > 0:08:1260 on higher grounds, Snowdonia, the Cambrian Mountains.
0:08:12 > 0:08:14So, the Met office warning of an ongoing flood
0:08:14 > 0:08:16risk in north-west Wales, as river levels are so high
0:08:16 > 0:08:17and the grounds already saturated.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20A wet start tomorrow, but winds easing, and the weather
0:08:20 > 0:08:22improving from the north-west, and that's the case
0:08:22 > 0:08:23across the UK.
0:08:23 > 0:08:24A cold front moving south-eastwards, bringing rain
0:08:24 > 0:08:26crossed south-east England, slowly clearing behind it turning
0:08:26 > 0:08:28drier and brighter from the north-west,
0:08:28 > 0:08:29but also chillier behind that cold front.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31A queue showers, wintry in the Highlands.
0:08:31 > 0:08:33Highs of just four Celsius in north-east Scotland.
0:08:33 > 0:08:3513 in the mind all the air in south-east England.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38And across Wales, a drier, brighter ends to the day,
0:08:38 > 0:08:39with a fuel isolated showers.
0:08:39 > 0:08:41Highs of nine Celsius in Conwy, 11 in Cardiff.
0:08:41 > 0:08:43Now, that front moves southwards on Thursday,
0:08:43 > 0:08:44but it doesn't clear completely.
0:08:44 > 0:08:46It is a waving weather front, pushing back
0:08:46 > 0:08:48northwards on Friday, so showers clearing on Thursday
0:08:48 > 0:08:49night, eventually turning drier, clearer
0:08:49 > 0:08:50and colder overnight.
0:08:50 > 0:08:52Two to eight Celsius in towns and cities,
0:08:52 > 0:08:53colder than this in the countryside.
0:08:53 > 0:08:55Friday is looking cold and breezy, with
0:08:55 > 0:08:56sunshine and showers.
0:08:56 > 0:08:59More likely to be drier in the north, away from
0:08:59 > 0:09:01that front, with rain more likely to linger in the south,
0:09:01 > 0:09:04where it is closer, and it is that same front
0:09:04 > 0:09:06which looks like it will move back northwards over the weekend,
0:09:06 > 0:09:08bringing rain at times, stronger southerly winds,
0:09:08 > 0:09:09and eventually bringing milder air behind it.
0:09:09 > 0:09:11So, chillier with sunshine and showers
0:09:11 > 0:09:13on Friday, colder overnight into Saturday, with rain likely
0:09:13 > 0:09:15on Saturday, which should then clear northwards on Sunday.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18Detail is likely to change, though, as we get closer to the weekend.
0:09:18 > 0:09:20We're back from around 6.25am in the morning.
0:09:20 > 0:09:21That's Wales Today.
0:09:21 > 0:09:24From all of us on the programme, thanks for watching.
0:09:24 > 0:09:38Goodnight.
0:09:56 > 0:10:01Goodnight.